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Future of old Rock Island fire station at Douglas Park in question

People in Rock Island will get a chance to weigh in on the future of an old fire house sitting at Douglas Park at a public meeting, Wednesday, June 1st, 2016 at...

People in Rock Island will get a chance to weigh in on the future of an old fire house sitting at Douglas Park at a public meeting, Wednesday, June 1st, 2016 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Rock Island starting at 6:00 p.m.

The Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department is looking at ways to improve the parks throughout the city, and one of the ways they look to help Douglas Park is to figure out what to do with the fire house at 18th Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Drive.

There are a number of options the department is reviewing-- renovations that could cost $200,000 or more, demolition that could cost $40,000 or more, or selling the property altogether.

All of the choices have a price tag, and city leaders are hoping that a public meeting will start the talks with people in that neighborhood to figure out a solution that everyone can agree on.

"It is an old, historic fire station, so I appreciate and respect that. We have sold old fire stations like that in the past that are now residences, so I see both sides of the argument," Rock Island Parks and Recreation Director John Gripp said.

What is said during the community meeting will be passed on to a third party consultant, and from there, Rock Island city leaders will figure out the best option for Douglas Park and the fire house.

The Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department will also be reviewing all city parks to figure out which ones need the most improvements and attention.

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